Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) Infected with the Agent of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Develop Tau Pathology

Piccardo, P.; Cervenak, J.; Yakovleva, O.; Gregori, L.; Pomeroy, K.; Cook, A.; Muhammad, F.S.; Seuberlich, T.; Cervenakova, L.; Asher, D.M. (2012). Squirrel Monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) Infected with the Agent of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Develop Tau Pathology. Journal of comparative pathology, 147(1), pp. 84-93. London: Elsevier 10.1016/j.jcpa.2011.09.004

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Squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) were infected experimentally with the agent of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Two to four years later, six of the monkeys developed alterations in interactive behaviour and cognition and other neurological signs typical of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). At necropsy examination, the brains from all of the monkeys showed pathological changes similar to those described in variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) of man, except that the squirrel monkey brains contained no PrP-amyloid plaques typical of that disease. Constant neuropathological features included spongiform degeneration, gliosis, deposition of abnormal prion protein (PrP(TSE)) and many deposits of abnormally phosphorylated tau protein (p-Tau) in several areas of the cerebrum and cerebellum. Western blots showed large amounts of proteinase K-resistant prion protein in the central nervous system. The striking absence of PrP plaques (prominent in brains of cynomolgus macaques [Macaca fascicularis] with experimentally-induced BSE and vCJD and in human patients with vCJD) reinforces the conclusion that the host plays a major role in determining the neuropathology of TSEs. Results of this study suggest that p-Tau, found in the brains of all BSE-infected monkeys, might play a role in the pathogenesis of TSEs. Whether p-Tau contributes to development of disease or appears as a secondary change late in the course of illness remains to be determined.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	05 Veterinary Medicine > Research Foci > NeuroCenter 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH) > Experimental Clinical Research 05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Research and Veterinary Public Health (DCR-VPH)
UniBE Contributor:	Seuberlich, Torsten
ISSN:	0021-9975
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:32
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:10
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.jcpa.2011.09.004
Web of Science ID:	000305596600012
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/12306 (FactScience: 218626)